NSU basketball releases nonconference schedules

NATCHITOCHES — The Northwestern State men’s and women’s basketball teams have released their 2017-18 nonconference schedules.

Men

For the first time since the 2014-15 season, the men’s basketball program will host a Conference USA school in Prather Coliseum.

Rice will come to town Nov. 17 to return a game from the 2016-17 season in which an NSU second-half flurry fell short in a 100-93 loss.

The Owls will be one of three NSU nonconference home games as coach Mike McConathy announced his 11-game nonconference schedule Wednesday.

“This game is huge for us,” McConathy said. “This game is equivalent to when Tulane came here (2004-05) and we had a nice crowd and got a great win.

“Getting Rice here is a really good thing.”

2017-18 Men’s Nonconference Schedule

Nov. 10 at Texas TBA

Nov. 12 LETOURNEAU 4 p.m.

Nov. 15 at SMU TBA

Nov. 17 RICE 6:30 p.m.

Nov. 21 at ULM TBA

Nov. 24 at Colorado State TBA

Nov. 29 LYON COLLEGE 6:30 p.m.

Dec. 9 Louisiana College TBA

Dec. 16 LSU-Shreveport TBA

Dec. 19 at Oklahoma TBA

Dec. 20 at Utah TBA

Women

Lady Demons fans will be familiar with a handful of the team’s 2017-18 non-conference opponents.

One of the 11 foes NSU will face prior to Southland Conference play is near and dear to second-year coach Jordan Dupuy.

Southern Miss, the school where Dupuy spent eight years as an assistant and associate head coach, will travel to Natchitoches on Nov. 28 to meet Northwestern State.

The Golden Eagles will be the first Conference USA member to play in Prather Coliseum since Northwestern State defeated Louisiana Tech, 69-57, on Nov. 18, 2014.

“I’m really happy about bringing my alma mater and mentor (USM head coach Joye Lee McNelis) here to play,” Dupuy said. “Southern Miss will be a quality opponent, but that will be a special night with a lot of people I have shared many memories with over the years.”